Yonderly

**Note: I got this ebook from an online library that fails to include information about books being part of a series. The Springsweet is actually a sequel to The Vespertine, which may explain why there was little explanation about the elemental magic in this book. I wrote this review before realizing my mistake, so I apologize for any unfounded assumptions. Fortunately, The Springsweet is able to hold up as a standalone (or the 1st book in a series), so I still stand by the majority of my review.

Mitchell's writing style was, perhaps, my favorite thing about this book. It was simple, deliberate, and sometimes lyrical. Her voice made the book light and easy to read. I'm thinking, "Yes! This is going to be an awesome, quick read that I can recommend…" As I read on, however, I felt the book was lacking. Which was incredibly disappointing because there was so much room for AWESOME. I kept pushing, expecting the book to take a turn for the better, because I sensed Mitchell could do better…But it never really reached its potential, that level of awesome. I got the sense that this novel was just supposed to be an introduction to the series, an exposition for a larger plot to come. *sigh*

The story follows Zora, a city girl who comes to live with her aunt on the western frontier. She has the ability to sense water (perhaps control it?), and she is soon employed as a springsweet, a person who is hired to find the best site for a well. Cool, huh? I thought so, too. But Mitchell never explores where this ability comes from, and no one goes all crazy upon learning about her ability. Of course, not everyone believes she can actually commune with water, but there are people who see her ability for what it is. Amazingly, these people accept it without any hullabaloo. I hate to bring up dark pasts, but colonial America had its fair share of witch hunters, and religious extremism was still alive and well in the 19th century. It seems a bit unrealistic to me. Surely some people would be crying witchcraft or at least be leery of Zora. But I guess not.

As I mentioned before, the book felt like some sort of introduction, with few pressing problems. Sure, farm life is hard and all, but there was never this main obstacle that Zora was trying to overcome. Most of her problems were in the emotional realm, and by the end of the book, her big accomplishment was the achievement of her independence. The novel is basically the story of how Zora "finds herself." Which is fine--for the right reader. I'm more of a quest-type girl. I like my characters to go after something, whether is be a physical object or piece of information. My ideal character leads the narrative, plunging into the world and shaping the story with his or her decisions. Characters like Zora, who have things happen to them, rather than making things happen themselves, aren't my cup of tea. I don't mean to say Zora sat around doing nothing--she did makes decisions and deal with the consequences. However, compared to other characters, she was more on the passive side, especially in the beginning/middle.

The romance was a bit contrived, but most romance in YA is. It's sort of guilty pleasure. There was a love triangle, and it was obvious who she would end up with. So…eh. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It could have been improved if things hadn't heated up so quickly.

So I know I've touched on a lot of negatives, and I don't want to give the impression that I didn't like this book. Because I did like it. I just didn't love it. It's a quick read, with a nice historical setting, and the premise is very original. I suspect the sequels will be infinitely better because Mitchell hints throughout the books that more is coming. References to characters with powers, like her dead friend, and the hook in the epilogue point to a new direction in the realm of magic. Like I said, the book is like a series intro. It basically tells reader how Zora came to be the person she is, and I'm guessing it will serve as backstory to a larger plot having to do with a group of people that have powers like Zora. With that in mind, I'd recommend The Springsweet to those who find the premise appealing. The series has the potential to be very intriguing. I'll just have to wait to see how it pans out…